It’s very normal to have trouble sleeping when you’re not in your own cozy, perfectly personalized bed. If you’re traveling for the holidays, being intentional with alcohol, staying active, minding your blood sugar, taking a sleep supplement, and sticking to your usual routine as much as possible will help you get the sleep you need to wake up refreshed and ready to ring in the last few days of the year.
New moons are a time for starting fresh, setting intentions, and wiping the slate clean. Depending on the zodiac sign the moon is in, each moon phase will have a slightly different flavor or influence—and this time around, it’s in none other than mysterious and seductive Scorpio.
There’s no shortage of critical thinking examples that unfold during the course of your day without warning.
Like, let’s say, you’re five minutes past “we were supposed to leave five minutes ago!” and your toddler’s nervous system picks that exact moment for a meltdown. What do you do?
Or you’re heading home from work, and the traffic greets you immediately. What do you do?
Or a close friend tells you that they have cancer. What do you do?
That’s the beauty of critical thinking. It shifts your mind from automatic mode to intentional action in the face of scenarios like these.
As brain performance expert Jim Kwik says in his Superbrain program on Mindvalley, “All behavior is belief-driven.” And when you’re able to see the moment where choice appears, that becomes the space where growth begins.
12 critical thinking examples you’ll want to start using today
So you have the toddler tantrum, the traffic slowdown, and the friend sharing hard news. But you might wonder, “What are critical thinking examples I’d actually use in my everyday life?”
The truth is, they’re far more familiar than you think.
1. Navigating conflicting health advice
Like it or not, there’s conflicting health advice everywhere. One could be telling you that celery juice can save your life. Another insists you need a twelve-step memory supplement routine before sunrise.
Your mind’s trying to make sense of it all because your overall well-being deserves decisions shaped by clarity, not noise. So…hello, critical thinking.
The mental skill at play here is evaluation. You…
Slow the rush of opinions and study the information in front of you.
Notice which claims rely on evidence and which rely on volume.
Check whether the source has real expertise or a clever headline.
Separate personal anecdotes from actual research.
Consider how the guidance fits your history, goals, and lifestyle.
With this, you’re able to choose with intention. You start to see that health choices become easier when you treat them like a conversation with your future self.
2. Fact-checking before sharing a viral post
Viral posts are viral for a reason. One second, it’s just thoughtless rambling. The next second, it’s everywhere and being analyzed years later.
Critical thinking here makes a big difference. You…
Read the entire post instead of the screenshot.
Search for the original source.
Check the date and the context.
Notice whether the message tries to stir emotion instead of offering information.
Pause long enough to see if the claim matches everyday reality.
All of this is intentional. And when you do so, you bring clarity into conversations that often move too fast. Plus, you show your community that your shares come from care, not impulse.
3. Reflecting on a personal mistake without shame
Chances are, at least once in your life, you’ve jumped straight into the deep end of self-judgment. The guilt, the overthinking, and wishing you had handled the situation differently.
Do you remember that scene in Season 1 of Ted Lasso when Ted snaps at Nate for trying to slip his coaching notes under Ted’s hotel-room door? Ted, under the personal stress of divorce papers, anxiety, and a big match ahead, loses his calm and snaps at Nate to leave. “Go! Get outta here!”
This is one of those examples of critical thinking that shows how a pause gives the mind a calm space to review the situation without spiraling. A few things you, yourself, can do include:
Writing down the moment that felt messy.
Identifying the part you can influence.
Noting the emotion that shaped your first reaction.
Looking for the lesson that appears once the feeling settles.
Choosing one small adjustment that supports your next step.
Each insight adds a layer of self-awareness. You grow through the moment instead of carrying it as a personal weight, and start to trust your own ability to learn from real life.
As for Ted, taking time to pause and reflect gave him the space to understand what he did wrong. And he apologizes to Nate for it: “I bit your head off for no good reason, and I’m really sorry about that, and I hope you can forgive me.”
4. Debating respectfully with someone who disagrees with you
Every interaction you have is susceptible to disagreements. It’s just the nature of being human.
The thing is, evolution trained the brain to protect you during moments of conflict. So your mind will want to put its most determined soldier at the frontline: the ego.
But a few simple habits can help you stay grounded when things get tense:
Ask a clarifying question before responding.
Repeat the part you understood so both sides feel anchored.
Notice your tone and steady it before the next sentence.
Study the point being made rather than the emotion behind it.
Share your view with calm language that invites dialogue.
You see the same thing in many critical thinking examples for students. Class debates, group projects, and late-night study sessions all train the mind to stay curious instead of reactive.
The goal here isn’t to win the war. Rather, it’s to find a peaceful solution that turns the conversation into something more constructive and respectful.
5. Noticing inner shifts during silence or reflection
Who are we kidding? This world is noisy.
If it’s not the hustle and bustle of face-to-face interactions, it’s the hustle and bustle of digital interactions. There’s not a moment when the world is just quiet.
But have you ever taken a minute to sit with your thoughts? What comes up for you?
Granted, it’s no easy feat. Jim’s student, Nelly Bos, a legal assistant from the Netherlands, knows this well. On Mindvalley Stories, she shares how unaware she was that her thoughts and spirit were chaotic. “I felt uneasy and worried, but was not fully aware of what was wrong.”
And when it becomes a habit, you can start to understand yourself with more accuracy.
6. Deciding whether to stay in a relationship
If examples of critical thinking skills include reading the room and asking questions that actually reveal something, it definitely can be useful in relationships, too.
For instance, say you tense up every time your partner mentions the future. That’s the tiny critical thinking cue to pause and ask yourself what you truly want out of the union.
Two people coming is a beautiful thing, yes. The thing we often forget, though, is that history, emotion, habits, and hopes all sit at the same table. So to cut through the noise, you can do a few things:
Notice what triggered the shift in the relationship.
Name the feeling that rises first.
Review the patterns that keep repeating.
Ask yourself what you need in order to feel safe and supported.
Check whether the relationship can realistically hold that need.
“Conscious awareness is the first part of solving a problem,” says Jim. So approach them with a calm mind and a grounded sense of self.
7. Asking your child what they need first
If you have children, you know that parenting them can feel like trying to read a book with half the pages missing. One moment, everything seems fine. The next moment, the bedroom door closes with Olympic-level force, and you have no idea what story you just walked into.
Before you respond with a similar Olympic-level force, ask yourself what are examples of critical thinking that you can take inspiration from.
Like, in Turning Red, there’s a scene where Mei is overwhelmed after school, and Ming can tell something shifted. Instead of lecturing, Ming kneels beside her, studies her face, and asks what is happening inside her.
Similarly, in Boyhood, Mason Sr. notices his son pulling back during their camping trip.
Instead of hounding Mason, he asks what has been on his mind and does some active listening.
Take note and try it yourself:
Ask what support would feel helpful right now.
Listen without jumping to a conclusion.
Notice the emotion behind their first response.
Clarify what part they want you to be involved in.
Do you have a friend who treats your time like an endless help hotline? When the phone lights up, your stomach sinks, and you already know the conversation will drain you.
Or you might notice that your body gets tense every time a family member asks for “one more thing.” Or that moment when your coworker swings by with “a tiny favor” that eats half your afternoon.
“The biggest travesty in the world,” says Jim,“is people preventing and limiting themselves from expressing who they really are because they’re afraid of what other people think.”
The thing is, though, you’re wired to be a people pleaser. Research shows you, as a human, carry a deep need to belong, and that need makes social approval feel essential.
Unfortunately, that also opens the door to a request here, a favor there, and another tiny “sure, no problem” squeezed into your already-overflowing calendar.
The good news is, a few critical thinking moves can help you protect the energy you may be giving away:
Notice the moment your energy dips around a person or situation.
Name the feeling that shows up when your schedule gets crowded.
Review your commitments and highlight the ones that feel heavy.
Ask yourself what limit would support your well-being.
Share that limit with calm, clear language.
“You do not have to try and make everyone happy,” Jim advises. “Remember to take time for you, time to replenish.”
9. Creating a personal budget that reflects your values
You open your phone and make a beeline for the shopping app. It’s so automatic now that you do it without thinking. You convince yourself you need a new water bottle even though you already own seven.
Critical thinking says, “Do you need it? Or do you want it?”
You might not realize it, yet this is one of the most practical critical thinking skills examples you can use in adult life. Those tiny questions pull you out of impulse mode and drop you into financial freedom-type awareness.
From here, the work gets simple:
Notice where your money flows without your permission.
Circle the purchases that actually add something meaningful to your life.
Cross out the ones that came from impulse or stress.
Ask what kind of life you want your money to support.
Set one small rule that honors that intention.
Once you see your spending with that level of honesty, you get to choose the life you build with it.
10. Preparing for a job interview with questions for the company
In The Intern, Ben asks Jules what she truly needs in the position, what support matters, and how she wants the workflow handled. Granted, he’s seasoned, but it’s one of the quintessential examples of critical thinking in the workplace.
Think of it this way: every question you ask gives you a peek behind the curtain of the company you might spend forty hours a week with. You could ask:
“What does success look like in this role during the first three months?”
“How does your team handle feedback and collaboration?”
“What qualities matter most in the people who thrive here?”
“How does the company support learning and growth?”
11. Assessing a self-help book before implementing advice
Remember when Eat, Pray, Love came out and everybody started going to Bali and getting Ketut to realign their lives? It might’ve been something Elizabeth Gilbert needed at that point in her life. But not every idea in a book is meant for your mind, your lifestyle, or your actual goals.
Some advice works beautifully. Some advice belongs in the “cute but no thank you” pile. And some advice looks powerful until you try it and realize it was written by someone who has a private chef, a meditation dome, and zero children.
So before you overhaul your entire life and move halfway around the world to meditate in an ashram in India, do a quick reality check:
Check who the author is and what their expertise actually covers.
Notice whether the advice aligns with your values or just sounds impressive.
Ask whether the recommendation fits your current season of life.
Look for evidence, research, or lived experience behind the claim.
Try one tiny step first instead of changing everything overnight.
This small moment of discernment saves you from burnout, confusion, and unrealistic expectations. And the best part is, you end up choosing the kind of advice that genuinely supports you, not the kind that just looks good on a bookshelf.
12. Choosing a career change with purpose, not panic
Jose Franceschini, one of Jim’s students from Puerto Rico, loves his work, teaching students as the chair of the department of psychiatry at a medical school in his home country. “My goal is to be as active as I can until at least 80 years,” says the 70+-year-old.
No doubt, finding something fulfilling and making that career change can be overwhelming. But, as Jim asks, “How will you serve the world?What do they need that your talent can provide? That’s all you have to figure out.”
Easier said than done, for sure. But more intentional than drifting, definitely.
So put on your critical thinking cap, and start here:
Notice which parts of your work still give you life.
Name the tasks that drain you faster than a bad Wi-Fi connection.
Review the skills you want to use more often.
Ask what kind of future would actually excite you.
Create one tiny step that moves you in that direction.
A grounded decision grows from honest reflection, not from panic-quitting on a Tuesday afternoon. You study your patterns, study your needs, and study your direction until you’re like Jose.
Why critical thinking matters more now than ever
Critical thinking, according to psychologist and award-winning educator Diane Halpern, is the mental process you use when you face a problem, make a decision, choose whom to trust, or figure out your next move.
That seems pretty straightforward at face value. But information today hits your brain with the speed of a firehose.
“The pursuit of information has become so all-consuming that many people find that they are constantly multitasking,” writes Diane in her book, Thought and Knowledge: An Introduction to Critical Thinking.
And that’s before you add AI into the mix. This technology can sharpen your thinking when you use it to explore ideas, compare sources, and ask smarter questions. But it also dulls your thinking when you take every output as truth and skip the fact-checking.
Then, there’s doomscrolling, with emotional headlines, outrage loops, and algorithm-driven content pulling your attention in every direction. One swipe turns into 20. Twenty turns into a full hour. Soon enough, brain rot ensues.
“If we cannot think intelligently about the myriad of issues that confront us, then we are in danger of having all of the answers, but still not knowing what they mean,” Diane explains.
This is why critical thinking matters more than ever.
This skill helps you study the source, spot the emotional hook, and ask what the information is trying to make you feel. You pause long enough to see if it matches your reality.
Diane adds that the real power comes from two things: learning how to learn and thinking clearly as information explodes around you. And awareness like this turns the modern world from a mental overload into something you can navigate with clarity, direction, and confidence.
How to practice critical thinking (even on busy days)
If only real-life examples of critical thinking came with a neon sign that flashed, “Hey, pay attention, this part matters.”
But it rarely gives you that. What it does give you is rush-hour traffic, overflowing inboxes, half-finished lunches, and the constant hum of “I’ll deal with it later.”
“It is difficult to imagine any area where the ability to think clearly is not needed,” Diane points out. “Yet, few of us have ever received explicit instructions in how to improve the way we think.”
It’s assumed that as people transition into adulthood, they automatically know how to think. Clearly, with all the critical thinking examples listed, plus countless others, that’s not the case.
Conscious awareness is the first part of solving a problem.
— Jim Kwik, trainer of Mindvalley’s Superbrain program
There are practical ways to strengthen your thinking without adding anything overwhelming to your day. Here are a few simple suggestions to start you off:
1. Ask thought-provoking questions
“The questions we ask play a very pivotal role in shaping our reality,” says Jim. And a single question can change the entire direction of your thinking.
“When we ask ourselves something specific, our brain works to find answers,” he adds. “It concentrates on the elements related to that question.”
Like the “Do you want it? Or do you need it?” when contemplating your shopping impulses interrupts autopilot and forces your mind to scan the moment with fresh eyes.
The great thing about it is that you can do this anywhere—in a meeting, in traffic, or even in the kitchen while you’re reheating leftovers for the third day in a row.
Questions like these give you clarity you cannot get from reacting. They put your mind in study mode instead of survival mode. And the more you use them, the more natural it becomes to think with accuracy, not urgency.
2. Slow your roll
Busy days pull your brain in a hundred directions at once. A text arrives, a request pops up, or someone wants an answer right now.
The co-founder of Mindvalley and host of the Mindvalley Book Club goes on to explain that long-form reading (read: actual books, not subtitles on your favorite Netflix show or closed captions on Instagram posts) “actually activates other parts of your brain and is very beneficial for you in many ways.”
Strengthen your ability to follow an idea, question it, and study it from multiple angles; and
Train your mind to stay with a thought longer than a headline, a scroll, or a three-second clip.
“Reading,” says Jim, “is downloading decades of information to your brain in a few hours.” So pick books that teach you something your future self might thank you for.
Choose topics that pull you forward. Leadership, psychology, creativity, health, human behavior, or, really, any personal development books that expands your understanding of the world.
But don’t think you have to do it in one sitting. Reading in short bursts works fine, like 10 minutes before bed, a page while you wait in line, or a chapter on a quiet Sunday. Every minute strengthens your ability to think clearly.
Unleash your limitless
Chances are, you’ve had days when your brain feels tired even before the day begins. You read the same line twice or forget things you swear you should remember.
Thanks to the way life keeps crowding your headspace, your mind is overwhelmed. And it deserves better tools.
That is why Jim Kwik, in collaboration with Mindvalley, created Superbrain. Inside this powerful brain-training program, he shows you how to…
Wake your mind up again;
Remember names with confidence;
Learn faster without pressure;
Feel mentally present instead of mentally pulled in every direction; and
Strengthen your focus so you stay with what matters
By the end, you may feel something you have not felt in a while: trust in your own mind. That is what Daniel Ford, an author from the U.S., found. He shares:
Thanks to this program, I discovered that my brain is malleable and capable of transformation… I learned how to unlock new ways of thinking, retain knowledge effectively, and apply these skills to solve real-life challenges.
That kind of trust makes you believe you can keep up with your life, your goals, and your potential. And you can get a taste of what is possible in Mindvalley’s free Superbrain masterclass, a prelude to the main program.
The fact of the matter is, your brain carries you through everything. Give it the care it deserves.
For the last 3 years, I’ve been living mostly in Asia, with bases in South Korea and Vietnam, and short visa runs in Thailand or Bali. I’m also familiar with Japan and Hong Kong from previous trips. What follows is my assessment of Asia as a destination for digital nomads.
How this blog post is structured: we will start with orientation, continuing with the basics, like internet coverage and coffee shop working, and touching up with the more complex social interactions and cultural differences. But you can read it in any order. Please note that my paid newsletter subscribers get a chunky bonus of tips, with actionable information like special areas where you can work from, best digital nomad friendly coffee shops or neighborhoods, etc.
Orientation — Know Your Place
Asia is not a monolith, and treating it as such will lead to disappointment — or worse, expensive mistakes.
The North of Asia (Korea, Japan) is over-industrialized, with high standards of living and a deeply opaque social fabric. You will need months, if not years, to penetrate the social layers here. Think of it as the Scandinavian equivalent of Asia: everything works, everything is clean, and everything is distant.
South East Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia) is a different beast entirely. These countries are developing rapidly, but they’re still affordable and the social fabric is permissive — people will actually engage with you. The Vietnamese are often called the Italians of Asia, and there’s truth to that: expressive, warm, and food-obsessed.
Bali deserves its own mention. At the time of writing, it’s almost fully Westernized — a place with dominant Western culture sitting on Asian infrastructure. The spirituality part that everyone goes there for? Over-commercialized to the point of parody. If you’re looking for authentic spiritual experiences, look elsewhere.
The practical takeaway: choose your base according to what you actually need, not what sounds exotic. Need structure and safety? Go to the North. Need affordability and human connection? Go South East Asia. Want to pretend you’re being spiritual while sitting in a cafe full of other Westerners? Bali is your next destination.
Internet Coverage
This is the easy part: Asia has exceptional internet coverage everywhere, at the WiFi level. Coffee shops, restaurants, malls — all reliably connected. Even small towns in Vietnam have better internet than some European capitals I’ve visited.
If you’re visiting for the first time, you’ll find 5G SIM card options immediately at the airport. I recommend this only for emergency cases. The better approach is to find an online eSIM provider and choose your package before departure, then activate when you’re at the airport. It’s cheaper, faster, and you won’t waste your first hour in a new country standing in line at a telecom kiosk.
One note about Vietnam specifically: the government blocks certain websites and services. Get a reliable VPN sorted before you arrive, not after. This is not optional.
Social Interactions
The North is highly formalized. In Korea and Japan, you should rely on meetup apps and try to discover connections at organized meetups — and there are many, with decent attendance. Random socializing in coffee shops or bars is possible but rare. People have their circles, and those circles are hard-coded by school, university, or workplace.
In the South, East you should go with coffee shops, bars, or expat-friendly areas and try to mingle there. It’s easier, more spontaneous, and people are genuinely curious about foreigners. You’ll have conversations. You’ll make friends. Some of those friends will try to sell you things, but that’s part of the charm.
The difference is profound. In Seoul, I could sit in a coffee shop for six hours and have zero human interaction. In Saigon, I’d have two conversations before my coffee arrived.
Status and Hierarchy
Understanding status matters if you want to navigate Asia without constantly offending people.
The hierarchy goes: Age, Career, Money — in that order.
Age trumps everything in the North. You defer to older people automatically. You use honorifics. You pour their drinks. This isn’t servility; it’s social operating system. In the South, East it’s more relaxed but still present.
Career matters differently across regions. In Korea, your company name is part of your identity. In Vietnam, entrepreneurship is respected more than corporate affiliation (it sounds weird for a self-declared communist country, but yes, Vietnam is highly entrepreneurial, everybody has a small business).
Money status is obvious everywhere, but the displays differ. In the North, wealth is quiet — luxury brands, yes, but subtle. In the South, if you’ve got it, you show it. Gold is the distinctive feature.
For digital nomads, this means: don’t brag about your location-independent lifestyle to locals working 12-hour days. Don’t talk about how “cheap” everything is. Don’t assume your Western casual approach to hierarchy will be appreciated. Be polite. Read the room, adjust accordingly.
Work Culture and Work Places
The work culture here is better than the West, regardless of the actual place — by which I mean: people actually work.
They work like they have no other choice, mostly because they don’t. If you’re not born into a wealthy family, you have to work incredibly hard, because there’s no relevant social welfare system. Pensions are barely a thing, so young people are actually supporting their entire family tree. Your 25-year-old colleague in Korea? They’re likely financially responsible for parents and possibly grandparents. The beautiful 20-year-old girl working in a Saigon bar? Same-same, but slightly different, she may also support brothers and cousins.
This creates an atmosphere of focus that’s frankly refreshing after years of Western “work-life balance” debates that mostly result in neither work nor life being particularly good.
By far the most affordable places to work are coffee shops. In Korea, there are even functional areas designated for work. A decent coffee shop — let’s say A Twosome Place, which locals consider lower-tier — has the first floor for ordering and quick sips, second level for social interactions (you can talk loud, laugh hard, walk around), and third-fourth levels for work and study. Same blueprint in Hollys, a slightly higher-tier chain.
Specific to Korea, and something I haven’t seen anywhere else, are the study rooms in dedicated buildings: just rooms with a table, a small fridge for drinks, and internet. Many students spend entire nights in these study rooms, then go directly to school in the morning. The hustle is real.
In Vietnam or Thailand, there’s not much franchising (although you can find Highlands Coffee, Phuc Long, Cong Caphe and Trung Nguyen Legend), but the diversity is incredible. It means you need to do a bit of extra searching, but it usually pays off big time. Independent coffee shops with character, good coffee, fast internet, and prices that make you wonder if there’s a mistake on the bill.
Food And Fun
Each place has its quirks, but in general, Asian food is spicier than you think.
In South Korea, they use kimchi (??) alongside pretty much everything. In Vietnam, fish sauce (N??c m?m) is everywhere — and I mean everywhere. When a local tells you that the food in some place is “really good,” 99% of the time it means that food is incredibly spicy. Adjust your expectations accordingly.
There are more and more Western options, but they’re usually more expensive and often worse than what you’d get back home. If you want to stay on the safe side, pick an international franchise (usually in shopping malls) or stay around expat-friendly areas. In Vietnam, this is easier, as expats are somewhat grouped by the real estate landscape — most condominiums are expat-only or expat-majority.
About fun: you cannot talk about Asia without talking about karaoke. This is an industry here, and part of the deep culture.
In South-East Asia, everybody sings — and they sing incredibly well. It’s casual, spontaneous, joyful. In the North, karaoke is more of a social layer you need to master for work, for social interaction, for integration. Different purpose, same activity.
Needless to say, the nightlife landscape is very rich everywhere in Asia. You can always find areas with bars and restaurants — that’s one of the main perks of being around this space. The variety is staggering, the prices are reasonable, and the energy is genuine.
If you’re the hiking type, you need to make your choice beforehand — pick a place to live that’s suitable for that, not for the bustling life of the main cities. You can try smaller cities: Busan or Daegu in Korea, Da Nang, Vung Tau, or even Phu Quoc (a small island in the south of Vietnam). These places offer nature, slower pace, and significantly lower costs, but you’ll trade that for fewer expat connections and less infrastructure.
Transportation and Traffic
You need to get your taxi/rideshare app sorted before arrival.
In Korea, you can pick from Kakao T (the dominant rideshare app) and Uber (limited availability, usually more expensive). In the South, Grab is your choice. Grab is becoming a super-app, including food orders, ticketing, and more, on top of the main transportation layer — and it works well. You can order a car or bike, and prices are transparent.
A word about Vietnam’s traffic: it’s intense. Actually, it’s like nothing I’ve seen before — though I haven’t been to India yet, so I’m refraining from calling it the most intense in the world.
It took me one and a half days to summon the courage to cross the street.
Vietnam has a population of 110 million people (including those living overseas, probably 10%) and a staggering 97 million bikes in circulation. The traffic doesn’t stop. It flows. You don’t wait for a gap — you step into the flow and move at a steady pace. Bikes will navigate around you. Stop suddenly, and you’ll cause chaos. I call this process “combing” through the bikes.
This sounds terrifying, and it is, for the first few crossings. Then it becomes normal. Then it becomes kind of not a big deal.
Budgeting and Expenses
It goes without saying that South East Asia is the most affordable place to live and work right now.
Vietnam and Thailand have a very low cost of living, and what you get for your money here — in any area, from accommodation to food to services — cannot even be compared with what you get in the West. Everything is cheaper and better. Significantly cheaper and way better.
A proper meal in a local restaurant in Vietnam: $3-4. Meaning you can get a big bowl of Pho (50,000 Vietnamese Dong, $2), and a beer (30,000 Vietnamese Dong, $1.2) and you’ll be set for the day. A 2-3 bedrooms apartment in a good area of Saigon: $400-600/month – including pool and gym access. A full-body massage: $10-15. These aren’t backpacker prices; this is normal life.
If you choose the North, you can still have a decent life, but the cost of living is pretty much on par with big cities in Europe. You can live off €10/day if you really pay attention and plan — and I did this experiment — but you won’t enjoy much. Korea and Japan are expensive if you’re trying to live cheaply, and affordable if you’re earning well and know where to spend.
The practical advice: budget for the North as you would for Western Europe. Budget for the South as about one-third of that, maybe less. And remember — cheap doesn’t mean low quality here. Often it’s the opposite.
The Takeaway
Asia is an incredible destination for digital nomads. It has good prices, a vibrant night-life, lightning fast developing infrastructure and a huge learning surface: from cultural differences to social interactions.
As I said, if you’re one of the lucky paid subscribers to my low-volume, no-nonsense newsletter, you will get in your inbox a host of actionable details, coffee shops and neighborhood to works, all hand-picked and verified by yours truly. If not, you can subscribe below.
Successful people love to help beginners. They have an incredible work ethic and rarely complain. As a result, others naturally look up to them and want to follow in their footsteps.
But here’s the truth: there’s no success without sacrifice. You’ll need to give up comfort, excuses, and sometimes even social approval to accomplish your goals.
Value comes from solving problems, and these 11 powerful tips will help you become more productive, successful, and confident, starting today.
After completing a big task or finishing a book, take five minutes to walk, stretch, or simply breathe. This quick reset helps your brain recharge and strengthens focus.
Many great writers swear by morning walks, solitude, and reflection can unlock creativity.
But if you refuse to take breaks, don’t be surprised when burnout hits. Your brain needs recovery time just as much as your body does.
2. Schedule Your Most Important Tasks First
Multitasking kills productivity. If you want to get more done, try time blocking, a method where you dedicate set periods for specific tasks.
Productivity expert Caitlin Hughes explains, “Time blocking involves scheduling blocks of time for your tasks throughout the day.”
For example, if you’re a writer:
Research your topic at night.
Write your first draft in the morning (don’t worry if it’s rough).
Edit in the afternoon, great writing comes from rewriting.
You can’t buy more time. Use it intentionally and without regret.
3. Eliminate Distractions from Your Workspace
Focus is the foundation of success.
According to Inc. Magazine, it takes an average of 23 minutes to recover from a distraction. That’s nearly half an hour of lost productivity every time you check your phone.
Put your phone away. Close unnecessary tabs. And yes, limit your Netflix binges.
Meeting deadlines consistently is one of the fastest ways to stand out and earn respect.
4. Take Full Responsibility for Your Life
Entrepreneur Derek Sivers once said, “Everything is my fault.”
This mindset doesn’t mean self-blame; it means self-ownership. Stop pointing fingers, making excuses, or waiting for others to change.
If your habits (like smoking or drinking too much) hold you back, it’s time to make better choices. Your friends can’t live your dreams for you; only you can.
I used to struggle with academic writing, but I improved by studying the work of great authors and applying what I learned.
Your past doesn’t define you; your actions do. Every new skill adds another tool to your arsenal and makes you more unstoppable.
6. Develop a Growth Mindset
Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck introduced the concept of fixed vs. growth mindset.
Choose the growth mindset. Embrace challenges. See failures as feedback. In today’s fast-moving digital world, adaptability is your biggest advantage.
7. Learn Marketing to Reach People Who Need You
I once believed marketing was manipulative, until I realised it’s about helping people solve problems.
If your work provides genuine value, marketing is how you let others know it exists. Even Apple spends billions on it.
Don’t be ashamed to promote your skills or business. Without visibility, your ideas will never reach the people who need them most.
Creative professionals who understand marketing and sales have an unfair advantage.
8. Ask Your Mentor the Right Questions
Good mentors can fast-track your growth.
While mentorship often costs money, it’s one of the best investments you can make. Great mentors don’t care about titles; they care about your progress.
If you don’t have access to a mentor yet, books are your silent mentors. Read the best in your field, take notes, and apply what resonates.
9. Build Confidence Through Action, Not Affirmations
Author Ryan Holiday once said, “I don’t believe in myself. I have evidence.”
Confidence doesn’t come from shouting affirmations into the mirror; it comes from proof. Doing hard things, keeping promises to yourself, and following through.
Your strengths reveal where your greatest impact lies.
If people compliment you on something often, it’s a clue. Lean into it.
A former professor once told me I was creative, and that simple comment gave me the confidence to go all in. I studied creativity, applied it daily, and turned it into my career advantage.
Double down on your strengths. That’s how you build momentum and mastery.
11. Identify and Challenge Your Limiting Beliefs
Your beliefs shape your reality.
For years, I believed I couldn’t be a great writer because of my chronic tinnitus and astigmatism, sensory challenges that made concentration difficult. But over time, I realised those struggles made me more disciplined, observant, and empathetic.
Your limitations can become your greatest motivators if you let them.
Avoid shortcuts. Growth takes time, but it’s always worth it.
Final Thoughts
Becoming productive, successful, and confident isn’t about working harder than everyone else. It’s about working smarter, consistently, and intentionally.
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Start small: take a break after your next task, schedule your priorities, or spend one hour learning something new.
Every habit you change compounds into long-term success. Remember, true change comes from practising new behaviours.
Here we are, living these lives bright and perishable as a poppy, hard and shimmering as obsidian. We know that they are entirely improbable, that we bless their bright improbability with each flash of gratitude for it all, that if we pay attention closely and generously enough we are always repaid in gladness, that gladness is the handle of the door to the world. And yet over and over we choose to live in the cage of complaint, too preoccupied with how the will of life betrayed our wishes.
In our age of competitive prostration, this is a headstand hard to hold for long. But it is trainable. It is possible to become strong enough to be tender, it is.
Artist and poet Rachel Hébert offers a bright patch of training ground in The Book of Thanks: A Catalogue of Gratitudes — one of the most miraculous books I have ever encountered, trembling with tenacious tenderness for the bewilderment of being alive.
Radiating from the pages is an invitation, extended in paintings and poems, to open “the sunlit fort of your attention” and let the world rush in, in all its minute and majestic loveliness: stalactites and Spanish moss, spiderwebs and skylights, snow and the call of the snowy owl, the heart’s capacity for “an urgent, flashing, interrupting kind of love.”
What emerges is prayerful (“more cellos, touch, and rain, please”) and singing with praise (“roots gripping, canyon carved, spine woven of baleen a thousand years old”) — a manual for how to live in gratitude (“what is working wants your praise”) and a theological statement (“there is nothing you must do to belong”).
A taste:
What do we say to longing?
If you have sat in the chill of early morning bleakness
and watched as the deep blue sighed and blushed, touched
by the warm curve of dawn and pinker than pink then
apricot soft and spreading its glow, you know. You know.
How — in this dim parade of brutality — might all be well?
But if we trouble it with light, train our sights on the rebellious good,
and work to make it truer.
Beneath the face of the water, wonder.
In dark woods, a gate.
In the chapter called lostness, a friend.
All the help we could not yet see.
It cannot be always comfortable. So love the thousand knives as they enter and see your shape still sitting.
See that you too belong to paws of soft silent hungers, to thirst-tangled roots, to silver-spun constellations.
Know you’re no sicker than the rest of us. The big secret is this: No one else can brave you. Messy, yes. And marvelous.
What is more than we see in this world we’re pressed into, its blistered barking noise?
For what we build, speak, and ruin — our efforts, our angers.
Feeling passionate, Cancer? As this revealing Scorpio new moon moves through your fifth house of creative expression, drama, and joy, you could feel especially in touch with your desires, urges, and impulses. And right now, your creative expression is your emotional outlet, so definitely lean into it.
When it comes to living longer and better, few voices carry as much weight as Peter Attia, M.D. The longevity medicine expert and author of Outlive: The Science of Art & Longevity has spent years translating complex research into actionable strategies for extending both lifespan and healthspan.
People assume small steps don’t matter, so they choose inaction instead. But how much of a difference does that make?
Welcome to Ask Coach Tony!
These are unfiltered field notes from the goal-crushing life: coaching wins, personal breakthroughs, and the failures that taught both me and my clients the most.
All real, all useful, all here to help you move forward.
Ready for a dad joke?
Consider this a lighthearted amuse-bouche for your brain before we get serious. Sure, it might be groan-worthy—but hey, at least you’re getting your money’s worth, right? 😆
What did one Doritos farmer say to the other Doritos farmer? Hey… that's a Cool Ranch!
You’re Already “Ready” Enough
Happy November…
The weather has turned, the holidays are on the horizon, and New Year’s is already whispering that familiar pressure: “Shouldn’t you be further along by now?”
This is the season of big reflections and even bigger resolutions. It’s the time of year when we start eyeing 2026 and wondering what needs to change. That means we are about to start telling ourselves we just need a little more time. A little more prep. Just one more thing.
But here’s the truth that nobody talks about:
“I don’t think I’m ready yet” is the fastest way to stay stuck.
This month on the Operation Melt blog, we’re flipping that script. Because one mindset has the power to unlock everything you’ve been putting off:
Don’t wait to be ready. Figure it out as you go.
Readiness is a myth. Momentum is what actually creates clarity. And taking one messy step today will get you further than six more months of waiting for the perfect plan.
Let’s stop trying to predict every move. Let’s stop obsessing over being fully prepared. Let’s start. Let’s adapt. Let’s learn by doing.
Starfish & Elephants: I’m Calling BS on a Popular Motivational Speaker
A family once took a vacation by the ocean. One morning, they walked along the beach, where thousands of starfish had washed ashore after a storm.
The family’s young daughter kept picking up starfish and gently returning them to the sea.
People watched and laughed at her efforts. An older man approached and said, “Why are you doing this? You can’t possibly save them all. It won’t make a difference.”
The girl paused, then picked up another starfish and tossed it back into the water. She looked at the man and said, “It made a difference to that one.”
Taking a Bite of the Elephant
The starfish story is a reminder that small steps matter, even if just to the one starfish the little girl was able to save.
I know it’s easy to get overwhelmed when you think about trying to make a difference. There are many big, complex problems out there that seem insurmountable for a single person. When facing these problems, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, which leads to inaction.
People assume small steps don’t matter, so they choose inaction instead. But how much of a difference does that make?
You can make a difference. You can do hard things. You just have to remember how to eat an elephant.
“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
The elephant proverb is simple: Don’t quit before you start. Break it down. Tackle it one bite at a time.
This strategy (geekily called “work breakdown”) is the basis of project management.
It’s also a must-have mindset to challenge overwhelm so you can project manage your life and goals.
Tiny Imperfect Action
A certain celebrity coach and motivational speaker (hint: he shares my first name) stresses the importance of “massive imperfect action” once you have committed to a goal.
Massive action says: once you commit, take a big step to build momentum. That momentum carries you forward.
Massive action isn’t wrong, and it isn’t bad. It is often a great approach. But not always.
When your goal feels elephant-sized, even thinking about ‘massive’ action can overwhelm you. And overwhelm leads to inaction.
Thinking you need massive action often leads to overwhelmed inaction. And that’s how goals die of loneliness.
There’s a better option: tiny imperfect action.
Toss one starfish back into the water.
Take that first nibble of the elephant.
In other words, a small step towards your goal today, even if it is the wrong step, is better than a “massive” step tomorrow. Plus, you don’t have to muster a ton of courage to conquer one tiny action… it’s too tiny to be scary, right?
You don’t need to wait until you’re “ready” to take one tiny step.
That first tiny step leads to another and another, building momentum like a goal-crushing snowball headed straight for the finish line.
Try this: one small act of kindness for one person. See what shifts.
Your First Tiny Action: Click One Button
Are you looking for a tiny, imperfect action that moves you closer to the life of your dreams?
Maybe it is as easy as clicking a button.
That is why I created Project Manage Your Life (PMYL) Starter Kit. It’s a DIY bundle with the same tools I use with clients, plus a guided mini course to help you start eating your elephant one bite at a time.
Clicking the button might be the smallest step you take today, but it could be the most important.
💥 Crushing your goals doesn’t require magic. It just requires action. Dream big, but don’t let the size of the dream keep you from starting small. Tiny, imperfect steps are how every big goal begins. And they’ll carry you to the finish line.
✨ I believe in you. Let me help YOU believe in you!
Click to get your Starter Kit (Etsy Digital Download)
Meet Coach Tony
Tony Weaver is a master life coach, technologist, consultant, writer, and founder of Operation Melt.
He helps project managers and other left-brained high-achievers pursue their biggest goals.
Through free resources, personalized coaching, and his proven Project Manage Your Life system, Tony empowers clients to move their dreams from “someday” to success… one step at a time.
Learn more about Project Manage Your Life, the system my clients and I use to crush our goals, at OperationMelt.com/PMYL/
Gary Zukav entered mainstream consciousness the day Oprah held up his critically acclaimed book, The Seat of the Soul, on national television in the late 80s. That pivotal moment made his work a cultural pulse that people turn to for self-awareness.
Now it is 2025, and that pulse is louder than ever. With new forces such as artificial intelligence and digital economies reshaping our perspective on ourselves and the world, self-reflection is vital to anchor us as things change and we evolve with it.
If you, too, are on such a spiritual journey, but struggle to put your feelings into words, then Gary’s work may be the starting point you’ve been looking for.
Who is Gary Zukav?
Gary is a spiritual teacher and author known for bringing clarity to the inner workings of human consciousness. His work reached a broad audience in 1979 with his first book, The Dancing Wu Li Masters, which won the U.S. National Book Award and introduced readers to his unique way of blending science with inner awareness.
That early success set the stage for The Seat of the Soul, the book that transformed his career. Oprah discovered it in 1989 and has since called it one of the most important books in her life, second only to the Bible. No wonder she invited Gary onto her show thirty-four times, creating a cultural moment that shaped how millions understood spirituality.
Oprah is not the only public figure shaped by Gary’s work. Vishen, the founder and CEO of Mindvalley, shares the same connection. He describes The Seat of the Soul as “one of the most incredible books I’ve ever read,” and often credits the author’s teachings as an incredible influence on his core spiritual worldview.
All of this explains why Gary stays so steady in his mission. He teaches because he believes people are living through a profound inner shift, and he sees his role as helping them move through it with clarity. “All of this,” he says, “comes from the universe,” and he is, in his words, its scribe, dutifully passing on what he realizes in meditative states.
From a soldier to a spiritual teacher
Of course, Gary wasn’t always zen. In his teaching, he often recalls a younger version of himself who lived with anger right under the skin. Long before the books and the spiritual language, he served in the U.S. Army, moving through environments where intensity was the norm and emotional shutdown was survival.
As a Green Beret officer, he stood in front of someone with his fists clenched and his jaw tight, trying to hold back rage that often felt bigger than him. Describing those blindsiding waves, he says, “Sometimes I couldn’t even remember a healthy part to go to.”
But there’s always something hidden inside the hardest moments of one’s life. For Gary, his early attempts at self-control eventually evolved into his first lessons in emotional awareness. Today, as a spiritual teacher, he’s passing the lessons forward.
“The largest context is love,” he says. “My whole goal is to help people understand the difference between love and fear and to choose love.”
The recurring theme in his work
A central message that Gary keeps revisiting? Humanity’s destiny for higher consciousness, and how spirituality can help them get there.
“Human consciousness has evolved over 300,000 to 2.5 million years, and it plots slowly,” Gary says. “Now it is exploding with a startling velocity.” He adds that this inner evolution gives rise to a new kind of person, which he calls the Universal Human. It’s short for someone who lives from their highest awareness.
This way of being is rooted in what he calls authentic power. Being a Universal Human, in his words, is “thealignment of your personality with the highest aspect of yourself that you can now begin to sense and grasp and experience.”
This idea is the foundation of the work he currently leads with Linda Francis, his longtime teaching partner. Together, they help people develop emotional awareness, make responsible choices, and follow their higher selves that already exist within them.
The shift to a new consciousness (what Gary Zukav means by Universal Human)
The Universal Human, Gary says, is “authentically powerful beyond culture, religion, nation, ethnic group, and gender; a human whose allegiance is to life first and all else second.”
This shift to a higher consciousness, he points out, happens when people start sensing life with awareness beyond their regular five senses. And their new ability to explore levels of consciousness is the bedrock of tuning in to what their soul wants—exactly what being a Universal Human is about.
Here’s Gary himself expanding the concept:
How To Find Your Soul’s Greatest Potential | Gary Zukov
The pillars of the Universal Human experience
According to Gary, this is what this evolution can look like:
Multi-sensory awareness, due to the expansion of human perception. He calls this ability “a gift from the universe” and encourages people to “unwrap it and use it.” This awareness helps someone understand their emotions more intuitively.
Alignment with the soul. You’d start to sense what Gary calls “the part of yourself that existed before you were born and will exist after you die.” With this burgeoning awareness, you may start discerning impulses that come from deeper truths from the ones that are habitual.
Love as a steadying force. As he says, “The largest context,” he says, “is love.” And conscious evolution begins when you act from this place, rather than from fear.
Growth as a chosen path. Gary often reminds people that inner evolution requires participation. “Creating real power,” he says, “is for you to do.”
Now, the tipping point for this change? Modern life, as it is, with all of its loudness, is nudging people to reflect inward. “All that is happening now,” he adds, “is part of an expression of an emerging awareness.”
Interestingly, his claim seems to parallel what researchers are beginning to notice in the study of consciousness. A paper in the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience describes the field as entering a coming-of-age moment, with awareness research growing at a pace that’s unusually fast. Turns out, scientists have been noticing patterns they could not map well before, and people seem more attuned to their inner experience than they once were.
Well, whether you take Gary’s word for it or prefer the scientific explanation, one thing’s clear: something in people is opening up. And it may be the beginning of the Universal Human archetype he’s been describing all along.
3 key concepts from Gary Zukav’s teachings (and how to apply his wisdom)
Gary’s work centers on a single idea: people can shape their inner world through awareness and intention. He teaches that real transformation grows out of the small, often overlooked choices people make in everyday life.
Think of the moment you catch yourself before firing off a reactive text, or when you choose to breathe through tension rather than let it spill into the room. Those micro-moments reveal what your inner life is actually doing… and they’re the doorway into change.
Once you understand the core concepts he returns to, his guidance becomes practical in a way you can use immediately.
Here are the ideas that shape the heart of his teaching:
1. Fear vs. love
Gary teaches that every choice grows from either fear or love. “Fear,” he says, “comes with physical sensations that hurt. Love comes with physical sensations that feel good.”
It’s why he encourages people to pay attention to their body’s signals because the body reveals the intention beneath an action.
To start tuning in to yourself, do the following:
Pause before you speak or act.
Notice what you feel in your throat, chest, or stomach.
If the sensation tightens, breathe.
Feel yourself stabilize.
Then, in this place of stillness, choose a lighter and more grounded response. That’s the one aligned with love.
2. Authentic power: aligning personality and soul
There is a certain feeling you get when you stop fighting who you are inside. It is what Gary terms authentic power.
You can lean into yours by noticing the moments that soften you, like:
The quiet breath you take before answering a triggering message from someone.
The unexpected calm you feel while watching morning light settle across your room, or
That healthy dose of righteousness that appears when you speak your truth, even when your voice shakes.
When you let those moments guide your choices, something in you starts to stabilize. Your actions feel clearer, and your inner world feels less crowded. Over time, that steadiness transforms into inner strength.
As this steadiness grows, the answer to “how to be authentic?” can be different for each individual. Gary often speaks about how men and women tap into it in distinct ways, and his explanation below adds another layer to this idea:
How Women And Men Create Authentic Power Differently | Gary Zukav
3. Emotional awareness, responsible choice, choosing love
Every inward shift begins with emotional awareness, which is why Gary often reminds people to “feel everything fully.” When you can feel an emotion without rushing past it, you start to see what is actually driving your reactions.
That single skill? It changes the quality of your choices.
Now, the concept of responsible choice builds on this. It is, as he defines it, “a choice that creates consequences for which you are willing to assume responsibility.” It means slowing down long enough to ask yourself what you are truly choosing, and who you are becoming because of it.
You can practice this by:
Noticing where an emotion lands in your body. Is it “radiating” in your throat, chest, or stomach? Anywhere there’s sensation, stay with it for a few seconds.
Naming the emotion as specifically as possible. Anger, anxiety, disappointment, embarrassment. Avoid vague labels like “fine” or “off” and opt for accurate descriptions like “anger,” “anxiety,” “embarrassment,” and the like.
Knowing what you want from this self-reflective moment. Think about the version of yourself you want to leave behind, and the person you’d like to become, here. Picture the outcome you desire, that you can revisit later without mental gymnastics.
Choosing the action that anchors mindful breathing. Notice which option lowers your heart rate instead of spiking it. That physiological shift is a cue that you’re acting from a place of clarity instead of reactivity.
The honesty you reach through this practice creates space for love to step in. When that happens, it becomes the quiet, consistent force that steadies your actions and shapes the person you grow into over time.
Gary Zukav’s books
Gary’s teachings on spiritual transcendence reach far beyond the conversations he is known for. His books, for one, are a testament to this, each one building on the last to help readers understand their inner world with greater clarity.
The Dancing Wu Li Masters (1979). This award-winning book bridges the gap between physics and human perception, introducing readers to the idea that reality is shaped by more than what the five senses can capture.
The Seat of the Soul (1989). A Gary Zukav classic, if you will. It explores the concept of authentic power and the evolution of human consciousness in a way that feels personal and accessible.
The Mind of the Soul: Responsible Choice (1994). Think of it as a practical look at how choice shapes destiny. Here, Gary passionately guides readers toward decision-making that aligns with personal integrity and emotional clarity.
Authentic Power: Aligning Personality with Soul (1997). This title explores the alignment between personality and soul, building upon the emotional and spiritual principles introduced in The Seat of the Soul.
Spiritual Partnership: The Journey to Authentic Power (2010). It’s here that Gary reframes a partnership as part of a shared spiritual growth journey meant to elevate both people.
Universal Human: Creating Authentic Power and the New Consciousness (2021). His most recent work focuses on the emergence of the Universal Human and what higher awareness can look like as your day-to-day, actionable steps. Expect tips on how to intentionally integrate this consciousness.
Together, these books chart the evolution of Gary’s voice and offer readers a map for navigating their spiritual development with more curiosity, honesty, and depth.
10 Gary Zukav’s quotes to inspire you now
One of the reasons many still Google “Gary Zukav Seat of the Soul” is, hands down, because of how profound and timeless his words are. They cut straight through the noise and land right where they need to, no matter where you are in life right now.
Take a peek at the ones below, handpicked to stir your soul:
“Every intention sets energy into motion, whether you are conscious of it or not.”
“The amount of stress in your life is determined by how much energy you expend resisting your life.”
“When the personality comes fully to serve the energy of its soul, that is authentic empowerment.”
“We cannot control what emotions or circumstances we will experience next, but we can choose how we will respond to them.”
“The choice that frees or imprisons us is the choice of love or fear. Love liberates. Fear imprisons.”
“Authentic power is the energy that is formed by the intentions of the Soul. It is the light shaped by the intentions of love and compassion guided by wisdom.”
“Your life is yours to live, no matter how you choose to live it. When you do not think about how you intend to live it, it lives you.”
“The loving parts of your personality have no trouble loving. That is all they do.”
“Be mindful of the words that you use and the actions that you live and who you are and how it is you use your power.”
“What is behind your eyes holds more power than what is in front of them.”
The deeper you read into his words, the clearer the “ping” for your soul-searching journey becomes. And they simultaneously lift the veil over your inner world and hand over the compass you’d need to navigate it well.
Awaken your spiritual superpower
Everything Gary teaches returns to one central truth: your inner kingdom, where your divine self emanates from, is always beckoning you to step in. The real work to do here is learning to hear its calls and dive in—which is what a spiritual transformation is about, in the end.
The Manifestation Journal, the tool that helps you name your truths and see where they want to take you,
Soul-Searching Questions, a spiritual survey that reveals your deepest needs, desires, and hidden directions,
Spiritual masterclasses, taught by spiritual teachers like Deborah King, Jeffrey Allen, and even Mindvalley’s very own founder and CEO, Vishen, to get you building emotional clarity and intuitive depth, and
So much more.
These resources offer an accessible entry point into the deeper spiritual journey waiting on the Mindvalley app. From compassion-based meditations to transformational programs and community-driven healing, it is a place where ancient insight meets modern seekers who want to live with more intention and inner steadiness.
And people all over the world feel the shift. Roopa Sharma, a Dubai-based life coach and Mindvalley member, credits Mindvalley for deepening her spiritual purpose. She shares:
I get my daily dose of physical, mental, and spiritual healing through these wonderful trainers. I now co-create my world with Mindvalley.
Stories like hers show you what happens when you give your inner world a real place to flourish. And with Mindvalley by your side, you inevitably rise into a version of yourself that’s been waiting for you to step into your greatness, all along.
If you take a walk down the cereal aisle, you’ll see lots of bran- or oat-based cereal adorned with a heart-healthy label and big letters claiming it can help lower cholesterol. That’s because they contain a certain amount of fiber in each serving, and eating more fiber is one of the most effective, science-backed ways to lower cholesterol and improve your overall heart health.
Hannah Frye is the Beauty & Health Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including beauty, women’s health, mental health, sustainability, social media trends, and more. She previously worked for Almost 30, a top-rated health and wellness podcast. In her current role, Hannah reports on the latest beauty trends and innovations, women’s health research, brain health news, and plenty more.
“The temperature also contributes to flavor differences,” Cornelis adds. Cold brew coffee tends to be less acidic, less bitter, and more sweet. This is because the different sugars, oils, and aromatic compounds in coffee oxidize at different rates. Sugars take longer to break down than acids. So the longer brew time of cold brew leads to a higher ratio of natural sugar to acids, leading to a stronger, sweeter cup.
Mountain breaks appeal to all ages, yet family groups often have different routines, comfort levels and interests. Picking the right Manali tour package is therefore less about chasing the longest list of inclusions and more about matching pace, facilities and support to the travellers involved. A clear method avoids confusion and helps families book with confidence.
This guide explains a practical approach to shortlisting, evaluating and finalising a package that supports a relaxed, family-centred holiday.
Start With a Clear Family Brief
Begin by writing a simple one-page brief before viewing any quotations. Note the number of travellers, age ranges, mobility considerations, dietary needs and the preferred level of activity.
Add budget boundaries and the degree of flexibility with dates. When this information is stated upfront, sales conversations remain objective and comparable, which reduces the risk of last-minute compromises.
Choose a Comfortable Pace
Journeys in the hills can feel longer than the distance suggests. Families typically benefit from shorter daily travel, generous breaks and early finishes. Design the rhythm around the slowest member of the group rather than the keenest.
Children rest better if mornings are not rushed and if evenings allow calm time at the hotel. Seniors appreciate fewer staircases and lift access where possible. A plan that acknowledges these realities tends to feel effortless.
A balanced Manali tour package usually spaces out the headline experiences and reserves time for unstructured moments. The aim is not to “cover everything” but to make room for shared memories without fatigue.
Prioritise Accommodation That Works for Families
Accommodation influences comfort more than any other decision. Look for room categories that genuinely sleep the stated occupancy without adding makeshift bedding. Heating, hot water and power backup should be reliable.
If travelling with infants or seniors, check lift access and proximity to reception and dining areas. A quiet setting can matter as much as a central location because uninterrupted rest sets the tone for the following day. Confirm these details in writing, not only over a call.
Review Inclusions With Care
Package descriptions can appear similar, yet the real value sits in the fine print. Study the vehicle type, the number of hours available each day and what happens if the schedule runs over. Confirm whether parking, driver allowances and road charges are included.
Understand the meal plan clearly, including serving times, early breakfasts and child-friendly options. If any activities are listed, ask whether tickets are prepaid or payable locally. Clarity here prevents uncomfortable conversations on the ground.
Consider Season and Weather
Conditions change across the year. Some days call for layered clothing and warm accessories; other days suit lighter wear with a sun cap. Build the plan around daylight and expected temperatures rather than a fixed sightseeing list.
Families with toddlers and seniors usually prefer later starts in cool conditions and earlier returns when evenings turn cold. Keep one buffer slot in the schedule to absorb a weather-led change without stress.
Focus on Safety and Health
Safety is not a single item but a set of habits. Choose operators who maintain vehicles consistently and who assign experienced drivers for hilly terrain and variable surfaces. Keep hydration easy, carry basic medication after medical advice and ensure emergency contacts are saved on at least two phones.
Young travellers benefit from simple rules about staying close during photo stops and wearing appropriate footwear with grip. Small steps raise confidence and reduce risk.
Plan Age-Appropriate Activities
Families rarely enjoy the same thing at the same speed. The most successful plans blend gentle walks, relaxed shopping time and light recreation rather than continuous exertion.
Indoor options at the hotel help on days when the weather shifts. Keep one open afternoon for rest or spontaneous plans.
Understand Dining and Dietary Needs
Food choices can be decisive with children and seniors. Request sample menus before booking, check if the kitchen can simplify dishes on request and confirm the availability of early dinners when needed.
Vegetarian diners and travellers with allergies should ask about preparation areas to minimise cross-contact. A consistent breakfast time also helps families leave on schedule without skipping meals.
Compare Pricing Transparently
When quotations arrive, split each price into hotels, transport, meals, entrance fees and service charges. This reveals where offers differ and why a lower rate might come with trade-offs. Ask how the rate changes over weekends, holiday peaks or school breaks.
Confirm whether heater charges or festive supplements apply. If the itinerary changes due to weather or maintenance, seek clarity on how refunds or replacements are handled.
Verify the Operator
Reliability comes from process. Prefer firms that share complete vouchers, driver details and escalation contacts in advance. Document conversations by email so that inclusions, room categories and vehicle types are traceable.
A professional operator will welcome this structure because it protects both sides from misunderstandings. Families travel better when promises are written, not implied.
Manage Documents and Communication
Keep all confirmations in a single shared folder accessible to at least two adults. Store identification proofs and vouchers both as printouts and on phones.
Share the daily meeting time with everyone the evening before rather than in the morning. Small coordination steps reduce friction, which is especially useful when travelling with varied age groups.
Balance Expectations Within the Group
Alignment inside the family is as important as the contract with the operator. Discuss the pace honestly, agree on a quiet time and decide the level of activity appropriate for the youngest and oldest travellers.
When expectations are aligned early, the group handles small changes with patience. A package that looks simple on paper often delivers more satisfaction because it leaves space for rest and conversation.
Read the Terms Before Payment
Terms and conditions are not an afterthought. Understand cancellation windows, amendment rules and refund timelines. Ask how the operator treats partial utilisation if a service cannot run for reasons outside anyone’s control.
Confirm the acceptable payment modes and the schedule for instalments. Responsible planning means knowing both the enjoyable parts and the obligations.
Final Checklist
Before making the transfer, confirm the following:
Names, dates, hotel categories and meal plans match the quotation.
Vehicle type, driver duty limits and inclusions such as parking and tolls are clearly stated.
Contact numbers for assistance are shared and active.
Any medical or dietary notes are recorded on the booking.
A light buffer exists in the schedule for rest or weather-led changes.
Conclusion
For families, the most suitable Manali tour package is the one that respects energy levels, keeps logistics simple, and supports clear communication. By starting with a thoughtful brief, checking inclusions carefully and verifying that the operator, parents and seniors can travel together with ease. Use the steps above to compare options on equal terms.
Travel planners often notice that a modest-looking itinerary brings the happiest outcomes because it allows room for genuine connection. When decisions are structured and expectations are aligned, a Manali tour package becomes less of a checklist and more of a comfortable framework for shared time.
Cancer cases in young adults have surged nearly 80% worldwide over the past three decades. And while population growth accounts for some of that increase, the trend is undeniable: more people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s are developing diseases we once thought of as problems for our parents’ and grandparents’ generations.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Somewhere in the mix of cold showers and calorie trackers, the pursuit of health can feel heavier than intended. And you may just wonder, “Am I actually getting healthier… or just busier, without actual results?”
With quick fixes constantly peddled to us, clarity can seem elusive. But no-nonsense health and wellness programs like WILDFIT and 10X Fitness (both available on Mindvalley) can step in as your support system.
One rebuilds your rhythm with food; the other, your power through movement. Both have reshaped how thousands of Mindvalley students eat, train, and live.
More than that, they invite you to put aside one-size-fits-all ideals to discover what vitality truly means for you.
What is WILDFIT?
At its core, WILDFIT is a 90-day recalibration of how you eat and think about eating. Created by holistic wellness expert Eric Edmeades, the program helps you explore intuitive eating at your own pace.
His ultimate goal? To help you attain food freedom by helping you remember your natural cravings and instincts before the food industry messed them up. Real work, he believes, begins not in restriction, but in self-awareness.
The program, as Eric sees it, facilitates what he calls “a conversation between you and your biology.” It’s designed this way because he believes real transformation begins when hunger becomes information, rather than a series of impulses.
So if you’re one to Google, “What is the ancestral diet?” lately, well… you’re in for a treat. (No pun intended.)
What to expect
Each week of theWILDFITprogram blends behavioral psychology with evolutionary nutrition, prioritizing whole, nutrient-dense foods that once shaped human vitality. Participants will move through seasonal themes that mirror nature’s rhythm:
Spring for cleansing, where the body learns to release sugar dependence and reset its natural hunger cues.
Summer for abundance, a.k.a. the phase that reintroduces vibrant fruits and healthy fats to rebuild energy and metabolic balance. Fall for rest, a reflective period that teaches the body to sustain health without strict control, integrating mindful eating as a way of life.
“Anyone can change with willpower,” reminds Eric. The bigger challenge, he adds, is how long you’d stay motivated, which is what the program is ultimately about. “Real change happens when the mind and body begin to agree.”
Hear more of what Eric has to say about the program:
Wildfit with Eric Edmeades | Official Quest Trailer | Mindvalley
WILDFIT reviews
For many people, WILDFIT feels like a full-body reset. The 90-day experience guides them to rework their eating habits and approach to food, often resulting in increased energy, improved sleep, sharper focus, and a steadier sense of balance.
Just ask these Mindvalley members, who are now happier to share how they’ve reconnected with their bodies with Eric’s ethos:
Finding freedom beyond the scale
When Ingrid Hardy from Sedona reached 195 pounds at the age of 63, she realized something had to change. “I was panicking a bit, as I did not want to see the number 200,” she shares.
That’s when she discovered WILDFIT.
Over the course of 90 days, Ingrid followed the seasonal approach Eric teaches: easing in with fruits and greens before gradually letting go of foods that caused her inflammation. “It was beautiful to have so much support during the process,” she recalls.
By the end of her participation, Ingrid had lost 30 pounds, slept better, and felt lighter in body and mind. “My sinus congestion has disappeared, I’ve lost inches all over, and I’m constantly getting compliments on how happy and fabulous I look.”
She now cycles through WILDFIT’s seasons year-round.
Rewriting the rules of nourishment
Josh Finkelstein, a former triathlete from Washington, found himself gaining weight despite years of training. What he discovered through WILDFIT was less about exercise and more about food psychology.
In just three months of following Eric’s guidance, he lost 25 pounds and dropped four pant sizes. But the real change was in how he viewed eating. As he shares, “WILDFIT helped me build a life around challenging the norms of food consumption as well as the emotions attached to them.”
Now, Josh feels 10 years younger and credits the program’s community for keeping him consistent. “I’m certainly in it for the long haul,” he points out, “as I feel better than I did in the previous year.”
WILDFIT helped me build a life around challenging the norms of food consumption as well as the emotions attached to them.
— Josh Finkelstein, a Mindvalley member
When awareness becomes strength
Johannesburg-based Peter Goosen didn’t realize how out of shape he was until one night, when his gate motor had failed, and he had to climb a six-foot fence. “I struggled like an old zoo gorilla to hoist myself over this minor obstacle,” he recalls.
At 1.68 meters tall and 105 kg in weight, he signed up for WILDFIT after exploring a free masterclass on Mindvalley. Three months later, he was down to 88 kg. “I feel stronger and more energetic than ever,” he expresses. “No more aches and pains when waking up—and best of all, I have no desire to go back to my old lifestyle.”
What is the 10X Fitness program?
Ask Ronan Diego for an introduction to 10XFitness, his program on Mindvalley, and the holistic fitness expert will describe it as a pursuit to build strength, endurance, and metabolic health in the shortest time possible. You’re looking at two 15-minute sessions a week that promise to deliver more results than hours of conventional training.
Co-created with performance coach and industry peer Lorenzo Delano, the program is, as Ronan calls it, “the evolution of effort.” Here’s why: you focus on training your muscles and nervous system to do more with less. According to him, the philosophy behind this approach is simple: “We want to serve the body, not the ego.”
From this principle stems the program’s foundation: high-intensity, low-frequency methods that activate the body’s adaptive response to enhance muscle endurance, promote fat reduction, and promote longevity.
In the program, you will experience three progressive phases that mirror the way the body learns, adapts, and performs:
Phase 1: The foundation. Up to Week 4, you’ll learn to master posture, form, and breathing for injury-free strength while learning the essentials of the 10X Big 6 routine. These short, focused sessions train your body’s adaptive response.
Phase 2: Sculpting season. Once your foundation is set, you’ll increase resistance and target specific muscle groups to tone, define, and enhance your performance from Weeks 5 to 9.
Phase 3: Living your 10Xlifestyle. This final phase, spanning Weeks 10 to 12, integrates recovery, sleep, and nutrition to make fitness effortless. By now, strength training has become a natural part of your routine, transforming movement into a sustainable way of life.
Don’t be surprised if you feel like giving up at any point in the process. Just remember that this is totally normal, and take a breath before you pick up your pace again. Ronan points out, “Consistency, not exhaustion, is what shapes your results.”
Below is a glimpse of what Ronan has to offer in the program:
10X Fitness reviews
If you’ve ever wondered whether two 15-minute workouts a week can truly reshape your strength and stamina, these 10X Fitness Mindvalley reviews tell the story best. The program’s approach has helped so many members around the world reclaim confidence, rebuild energy, and learn how to train smarter.
Below, three Mindvalley students share what happened when they put Ronan and Lorenzo’s methods into practice:
Learning to trust the process
When Leilani Brown, a 48-year-old health coach from Brisbane, joined 10X, she wasn’t a stranger to the gym. But the weights section intimidated her. “I was an intermittent-fasting cardio bunny,” she says. “I preferred treadmills and spin bikes over weights.”
She decided to give the program a real shot and make the assigned gym sessions a non-negotiable part of her week. Ronan’s approach, she eventually realized, was doable, even enjoyable, which she chalks up to the program’s easy-to-follow design. “The videos were simple enough for me to understand,” she explains.
Within four weeks, she began to see early gains. Today, resistance training has become part of her routine. “It’s taken me a year to understand how my body responds to food, hydration, and emotions,” reveals Leilani. “I’ve normalized resistance training; it doesn’t scare me as much.”
Training smarter, healing deeper
For Barcelona-based Yamila Tudela Pol, enrolling in 10X Fitness meant regaining her time and comfort. “Before the pandemic, I used to train three hours in the gym,” she says. “Now my training time is just six to ten minutes.”
Despite working out less, she noticed real improvements. “I’m lifting or pulling more weight than before. My legs and glutes are more defined, and I feel younger.”
But what surprised her the most was the relief she got from recurring pain. As she’s happy to note, “All the old injuries are gone.”
Redefining strength after setback
After losing his right leg below the knee in 2020, Lawrence Tuazon from Fukuoka, Japan, spent more than a year in recovery. Traditional weight training didn’t help him rebuild his strength; Ronan’s version in 10X Fitness did.
“I started the protocol in October 2020 and joined the program the following January,” he shares. “My goal was to strengthen my legs and prevent muscle atrophy.”
Six months later, his leg press strength had increased by 264%, reaching 190 kg for 12 repetitions. The result? He can now walk for long hours, jog, and climb stairs without his muscles becoming fatigued.
And the benefits Lawrence is reaping extend beyond the physical. “My mood,” he reports, “is always good. I can actively play with my daughter again.”
WILDFIT vs. 10X Fitness: Key differences
Both programs are built on the science of wellness, but they transform the body in different ways. One helps you tune into what your body truly needs through food awareness and behavioral change, while the other focuses on strength and longevity via efficient movement.
Here’s how they compare:
Aspect
WILDFIT
10X Fitness
Focus
Food psychology, nutrition, and metabolic reset
Strength training, muscle activation, and endurance
Duration
90 days (or approximately three months)
12 weeks (or approximately four months)
Time commitment
Short daily lessons and simple food adjustments
Two 15-minute sessions per week
Core method
Behavioral science and evolutionary nutrition
Exercise physiology and adaptive response training
Primary goal
Fat loss, energy balance, and food freedom
Lean muscle growth, strength, and metabolic efficiency
Ideal for
Anyone ready to restore balance and rebuild healthy habits
Anyone looking to sculpt and strengthen their bodies while optimizing physical performance
Long-term outcome
A calm relationship with food and sustainable vitality
A stronger, more efficient body that performs with ease
Think of WILDFIT as the nutrition blueprint that resets your system from the inside out, and 10X as the training framework that helps you build on that foundation. Each tackles a different piece of the wellness puzzle, and both are equally essential for feeling strong, energized, and in sync with your body.
Which program is for you?
To know whether you should go for WILDFIT or 10X Fitness, you have to first know where your body is at right now. Both Mindvalley programs lead to transformation, but they meet you at different stages of your health journey.
Here’s how to know which to go for:
Why you should choose WILDFIT
This program is for you if your immediate goal is to burn fat, rebalance your metabolism, and feel more energized. It helps you rebuild your relationship with food and tune into what your body truly needs.
When body fat levels are higher, insulin sensitivity tends to decrease, making it more difficult for your body to absorb and utilize nutrients effectively. However, here’s where Eric helps you repair that imbalance by encouraging you to choose nutrient-dense foods to stabilize your blood sugar levels and restore your natural hunger cues.
Since diet plays a more significant role than exercise in shaping body composition, Eric provides you with the tools to create visible, lasting change from the inside out, which is ultimately about what you eat but also how you think about eating.
“The body,” he posits, “is not the problem. It’s the environment, the habits, the signals we’ve stopped listening to.”
Anyone can change with willpower. The question is for how long.
— Eric Edmeades, trainer of the WILDFIT program on Mindvalley
Why you should opt for 10X Fitness
If you’re already at a healthy weight and want to get stronger, leaner, and more defined, 10X Fitness can be your next best step.
With just two short (yet no less effective) workout sessions a week, Ronan and Lorenzo guide you to activate your body’s adaptive response. The focus here shouldn’t be on doing more, but rather on doing what matters for your body. “You don’t need more time,” says Ronan. “You need the right stimulus.”
This is where each unique workout combination comes in. The goal is to push your muscles to the edge of their capacity, then give them the recovery they need to grow back stronger. That balance of effort and rest is the stuff of muscular endurance, which is what makes results sustainable long term.
You don’t need more time. You need the right stimulus.
— Ronan Diego, trainer of the 10X Fitness program on Mindvalley
When it’s good to do both
When push comes to shove, WILDFIT and 10X Fitness work best together for lasting results.
“The moment you start feeding your body what it’s truly asking for, everything begins to change: your energy, your focus, your confidence,” says Eric. This foundation prepares you for 10X Fitness, where nutrition supports performance instead of holding it back.
You can think of proper nutrition as the fuel for optimal movement. “There’s no chasing exhaustion here,” says Ronan. And fueling right is a matter of mindset. “We train the body to adapt,” he continues. “When your mind and muscles work together, the results multiply.”
Zooming out, you’ll see the connecting point: the food nourishes the system, and the training amplifies it. And together, they contribute to an ongoing cycle of vitality that supports you for life.
Frequently asked questions
What do you eat on a WILDFIT diet?
WILDFIT centers on whole, nutrient-rich foods that help your body return to its natural rhythm.
The seasonal patterns it’s based on are inspired by how humans evolved to eat, guiding you through phases that emphasize fresh fruits, leafy greens, vegetables, quality proteins, and healthy fats. Gradually, you’ll start letting go of processed foods and refined sugars as your body begins to crave what truly nourishes it.
Many participants report improved digestion, increased energy, deeper sleep, and a more balanced relationship with food by the end of the 90 days. To this, Eric says, “When you start feeding your body real food, it starts to tell you what it needs.”
Can 10X Fitness help with weight loss?
The short answer is yes. Most students begin to notice physical and mental changes within the first few weeks.
Measurable shifts often show up by the end of the first month. The short, high-intensity sessions stimulate your adaptive response, which supports fat loss by increasing muscle activation, improving metabolic efficiency, and encouraging better post-workout recovery.
But Ronan is always quick to remind his students that the real magic happens during the resting phase between sessions. As he says, “Your results don’t come from the workout. They come from what happens between workouts.”
How much do WILDFIT and 10X Fitness cost?
Both programs are available to you on the Mindvalley app, simultaneously when you sign up for a Mindvalley Membership. For the price of one subscription, you also get access to other programs in personal growth and development, spirituality, meditation, and more.
Pricing may vary by region and is subject to promotions. So do check the Mindvalley Membership page for the correct price tier and the latest offer.
Awaken your unstoppable
Good health is your birthright. It begins the moment you decide to come home to yourself and own what you feed your body, how you move it, and how you show up for yourself each day.
